• Greece is battling multiple wildfires, leading to widespread evacuations.
• Heatwave conditions are exacerbating the wildfire situation, with temperatures exceeding 45°C.
• The EU is providing firefighting support, including aircraft from Italy and teams from the Czech Republic.
• Regions such as Evia, Kythera, and areas around Athens are significantly affected.
• Authorities urge residents to remain vigilant as the fire risk persists across the country.

Greece is currently facing severe challenges from escalating wildfires that have prompted evacuations in several regions, particularly near the capital, Athens. Firefighters are engaged in combatting numerous blazes, with reports indicating houses have caught fire in towns such as Kryoneri and Drosopigi, just north of Athens. Extreme heat, with temperatures expected to reach up to 45°C, is fueling these fires, which have caused significant property damage and threaten local wildlife and farmland, according to Reuters and BBC.

Fire Brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakoyannis noted that the situation remains critical across several fronts, including the island of Kythera, where evacuation orders were issued as the fire closed in on inhabited areas. "Today is expected to be a difficult day with a very high risk of fire, almost throughout the territory," he stated. As of now, over 300 firefighters, supported by planes and helicopters, are battling the flames, which have already claimed thousands of acres of land and disrupted basic services like electricity and water supply, according to Al Jazeera and Le Monde.

In response to the escalating crisis, the Greek government has requested assistance from the European Union, leading to deployments from Italy and the Czech Republic to help contain the situation. Amidst this urgent request for aid, multiple regions have been placed under severe fire risk alerts, including the southern areas of Crete and Evia, which are experiencing particularly fierce flames and rapid spread, as reported by India Times and Anadolu Agency.

As the harsh heatwave continues, which has lasted over a week, authorities are bracing for ongoing challenges in firefighting operations and the necessity for further evacuations. Past data indicates that 2023 was the most destructive year for wildfires in Greece, with significant areas burned and numerous casualties, highlighting the worsening impact of climate change in the region, according to Dawn and India Times.